Compact stackable tray

ABSTRACT

A compact stackable tray system is disclosed wherein in a first orientation the supports of a lower tray maintain an upper tray away from the lower tray such that one of a plurality of standard milk containers stored on the lower tray may be freely removed and in a second orientation wherein the supports of the lower tray nest within the support of the upper tray such that the lower surface of the upper tray rests against the upper surface of the lower tray.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of CanadianApplication No. 2,853,385, filed on Jun. 2, 2014, and CanadianApplication No. 2,856,688, filed on Jul. 10, 2014. All documents aboveare incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compact stackable tray. Inparticular, the present application relates to a stackable tray which ina first orientation supports a like tray positioned above the tray andin a second orientation nests with the like tray.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, milk in bags is delivered to the merchant in cratesstacked on pallets or placed on a stainless steel rolling rack (bossycart) which can for example be pushed into a refrigerator and bemerchandisable without further intervention. The racks are heavy andexpensive and lead to injuries and the like. A picked palletconfiguration where the pallet is delivered to the merchant preloadedand simply placed in racking and or on the ground from which customerscan select the product they wish to purchase is typically preferredgiven its simplicity. However, current one way solutions which rely onthe use cardboard boxes or the like require robust materials which aredifficult to dispose of.

What is needed therefore, and an object of the present application is anecofriendly, inexpensive and convenient means to organize, transport anddisplay for sale milk or other beverages held in bags, cartons or jugsas well as other items such as produce and the like.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a tray andsystem that in turn minimises the need for secondary packaging, isretail ready, reusable in a closed loop system and which is stackableand nestable thereby minimizing the space required for empty containerstorage and return.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to address the above and other drawbacks, there is provided acompact stackable tray configured for stacking with other like trays.The tray comprises a flat rectangular support, a plurality of dividersintegral to the support and separating an upper surface of the supportinto a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments sized toreceive a bottom of at least one standard milk container therein, a rimabout a periphery of the rectangular support, and a first pair of hollowuprights arranged towards a first short edge of the support and a secondpair of hollow uprights arranged towards a second short edge of thesupport opposite the first edge, the uprights extending above thesupport to a height above that of a standard milk container whensupported on the support. In a first orientation of the tray to an upperlike tray, the upper like tray is supported by the uprights of the trayand such that a lower surface of a support of the upper tray ismaintained at least a height of the standard milk container above anupper surface of the support of the tray and wherein in a secondorientation of the upper tray to the tray rotated 180 degreeshorizontally to the first orientation, the hollow uprights of the traynest within the hollow uprights of the upper tray and such that thelower surface of the support of the upper tray is immediately adjacentthe upper surface of the support of the tray when empty and furtherwherein the uprights combined can support a minimum weight of 160 kgs.

Additionally, there is provided a compact stackable tray systemcomprising a pair of like compact stackable trays arranged as an uppertray and a lower tray, each of the trays comprising a flat rectangularsupport, a plurality of dividers separating an upper surface of thesupport into a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments sizedto receive at least one standard milk container therein, a rim about aperiphery of the rectangular support, and a first pair of hollowuprights arranged along a first short edge of the support and a secondpair of hollow uprights arranged on a second short edge of the supportopposite the first edge, the uprights extending above the support. In afirst orientation of the upper tray to the lower tray, the upper tray issupported by the uprights of the lower tray such that a lower surface ofthe support of the upper tray is maintained at least a height of thestandard milk container above an upper surface of the support of thelower tray and wherein in a second orientation of the upper tray to thelower tray rotated 180 degrees horizontally to the first orientation,the hollow uprights of the lower tray nest within the hollow uprights ofthe upper tray and such that the lower surface of the support of theupper tray is immediately adjacent the upper surface of the support ofthe lower tray and further wherein for each tray the uprights combinedcan support a minimum weight of 160 kgs.

Also there is provided a compact stackable tray system for stacking milkcontainers of a plurality of different milk container formats. For agiven one of the plurality of standard milk container formats, at leastone compact stackable tray is provided comprising a flat rectangularsupport, a plurality of dividers separating an upper surface of thesupport into a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments sizedto receive at least one standard milk container of the given standardmilk container format therein, a rim about a periphery of therectangular support, and a first pair of hollow uprights arranged alonga first short edge of the support and a second pair of hollow uprightsarranged on a second short edge of the support opposite the first edge,the uprights extending above the support. In a first orientation, anupper tray is supported by uprights of a lower tray such that a lowersurface of a support of the upper tray is maintained at least a heightof the given standard milk container of the lower tray above an uppersurface of the support of the lower tray and wherein in a secondorientation of the upper tray to the lower tray rotated 180 degreeshorizontally to the first orientation, if the upper tray and the lowertray are each adapted for stacking a like given milk container format,the hollow uprights of the lower tray nest within the hollow uprights ofthe upper tray and such that the lower surface of the support of theupper tray is immediately adjacent the upper surface of the support ofthe lower tray, and if the upper tray and the lower tray are eachadapted for stacking a different given milk container format, the hollowuprights of the lower tray are unable to nest within the hollow uprightsof the upper tray, and further wherein for each tray the uprightscombined can support a minimum weight of 160 kgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides an isometric view of a pair of compact stackable traysin accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2A provides a sectional view of a pair of compact stackable traysalong lines IIA-IIA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B provides a front plan view of a compact stackable tray inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C provides a detailed side view of an upright of a lower traynested in an upright of an upper tray and in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D provides a top plan view of a compact stackable tray inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 provides a lowered right front view of a pair of compactstackable trays in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4A provides a raised left front view of a plurality of compactstackable trays in a supported stack in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B provides a raised left front view of a plurality of compactstackable trays in a nested compact stack in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4C and 4D provided raised right front views of compact stackabletrays in a nested compact stack in accordance with an alternativeillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4E provides a raised right front view of a compact stackable trayin accordance with an additional alternative illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4F provides a raised right front view of a stack of compactstackable trays each configured for stacking a different standard milkcontainer format in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a raised left front view of a compact stackable tray inaccordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a pair of compact stackable trays in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed. Each tray, generally referred to using the reference numeral10, is illustratively manufactured from injection molded plastic andcomprises a substantially flat molded plastic tray support 12 dividedinto a plurality of bag receiving compartments as in 14 by a series ofdividers as in 16 aligned with a long edge of the tray 10. Each of thecompartments as in 14 may be divided into a pair of subcompartments 18by provision of an additional divider 20 arranged across a respectivecompartment as in 14. A first pair of uprights as in 22 is arrangedalong a first short edge 24 of the tray 10 and a second pair uprightssupports as in 26 is arranged along a second short edge 28 of the tray10. As will be discussed in more detailed below an outer edge 30 of eachof the first pair of uprights as in 22 is positioned substantially flushwith a respective long edge 32, 34 of the tray 10 while the second pairof uprights as in 26 are positioned away from their respective longedges 32, 34. The dividers as in 16, 20 also provide structural strengthto the tray support 12. This allows heavier goods (not shown) to besupported by the support 12 and/or the support 12 to be manufacturedfrom a thinner plastic without the support 12 bending under the weightof those goods.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in the illustrative embodiment each subcompartment as in 18 is sized to accept a conventional milk bag (notshown). As known in the art, such bags each comprise four (4) liters ofmilk or liquid beverage organized in three (3) smaller bags of 1.33liters each. Such bags have minimal structural strength and willtypically fall over if not supported. The dividers as in 16 are ofbetween 5 and 8 centimeters height to provide some support to the bagsand help to maintain them in position and therefore keeping a side ofthe bag clearly visible, while at the same time being low enough toallow the milk bags to be individually extracted from the tray 10without undue effort. A rounded upper edge 36 is also provided to thedividers as in 16 to prevent snagging or tearing of the bags duringextraction. Each tray 10 also comprises a raised outer rim 38 of about 8to 12 centimeters, also comprising a rounded upper edge, which providesadditional support for bags when the tray 10 is full thereby preventingbags retained within the tray from inadvertently being ejected duringtransport, for example. In a particular embodiment small drainage holes(no shown) may be provided in each sub compartment as in 18 to allow forwater or other liquids to escape, thereby facilitating washing, forexample.

Still referring to FIG. 1, each upright as in 22, 26 extendsapproximately 28 centimeters (11 inches) above the bottom of the tray 10in order, as will be discussed in more detail below, to provide adequateclearance between stacked trays such that a standard milk bag in betweenmay be freely removed.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the uprights as in 22, 26 arehollow and illustratively of a rectangular frustum shape and are of thesame height (i.e. they extend the same distance above the tray). Theouter surfaces as in 40 and the inner surfaces as in 42 of the uprightsas in 22, 26 are tapered such that, as will be discussed in more detailbelow, trays as in 10 may be compactly stacked together by insertingrespectively the first uprights 22 and second uprights 26 of a lowertray inside the hollow first uprights 22 and hollow second uprights 26of an upper tray. In this regard, small holes (not shown) may beprovided in the apex 48 of each upright as in 22, 26 to allow air toescape and enter the hollow support during compact nested stacking.Additionally, and with reference to FIG. 2C, the taper of the outersurface 40 and the inner surface 42 of the uprights as in 22, 26 isselected such that during compact stacking, the outer surface 40′ of theuprights as in 22, 26 of a lower tray remain a small distance “d” apartfrom the inner surfaces 42′ of the uprights as in 22, 26 of the uppertray, or in other words the uprights as in 22, 26 do not bottom out in acompact stacked configuration. This limits sticking, for example whenthe trays as in 10 are wet or the like allowing for easy unstacking of acompact stack of trays.

Referring to FIG. 2D, each of the trays is rectangular in shape andillustratively 24 inches×20 inches such that four (4) trays as in 10 maybe placed in a 2×2 configuration to match the 40 inch by 48 inch footprint of a standard commercial pallet (not shown) and such that whenpositioned in a rack or the like one of the long edges 32, 34 of eachtray, and therefore the individual milk bags, is displayed towards thefront of the pallet, thereby allowing the product to be quicklyrecognized. Additionally, the uprights as in 22, 26 are dimensioned suchthat five (5) loaded and inverted trays may be stacked together. As eachtray carries a maximum of 10 bags, or 40 liters, of milk, the uprightsas in 22, 26 uprights together are able to support a weight of at leastabout 160 kilograms.

Referring to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2A, as will now be appreciatedby a person of ordinary skill in the art, trays may be stacked as shownby reversing alternate trays and such that the uprights 22, 26 of thelower tray 10′ engage the underside 44 of the upper tray as in 10. Inthis regard, the underside 44 of each tray comprises pairs of locatingpoints as in 46 which receive the apex 48 of a respective upright as in22, 26 therein. Each of the first pair of uprights as in 22 buttsagainst a respective outer tab as in 50 molded in the underside 44 andtowards a lower outer edge 52 of the tray being supported, and therebyprevents the tray being supported from sliding on the first pair ofuprights as in 22. Similarly, each of the second pair of uprights as in26 butts snugly against a respective inner tab as in 54 molded in theunderside 44 of the tray which thereby prevents the tray being supportedfrom sliding on the second pair of uprights as in 26.

Referring back to FIG. 2A in addition to FIG. 3, the tabs 50, 54 may betapered such that they better engage the tapered outer surface 40 oftheir respective uprights as in 22, 26. In this manner the trays arestabilized versus one another thereby limiting shifting during transportor the like. Of note is that, as contact with the underside 44 of thetray 10 is lost below the hollow uprights as in 22, provision of thetabs 54 on the inside of the respective supports as in 26 allows theuprights as in 26 to be positioned somewhat farther apart while stillmaintaining contact between the apex as in 48 with the underside 44,thereby improving stability. In an alternative embodiment the secondpair of uprights as in 26 could be combined into one, with provision ofa notch towards the center of the apex of the unified support and acorresponding notch engaging tab in the underside 44 of the tray 10 (allnot shown). With brief reference to FIG. 1, additional gussets as in 56can be added to the uprights as in 22, 26 to improve strength.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a series of indentations as in 58 aretypically formed on the underside 44 of the tray 10 opposite thedividers (references 16, 20 in FIG. 1) during manufacture as the plasticcools and contracts. Alternatively, additional ribbing may be added onthe underside 44 to increased strength.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, in a first mode of operation trays as in 10loaded with milk bags as in 60 are stacked in a 2×2 configuration andfive high on a standard commercial pallet 62 to form a supported stack64. As discussed above, in this manner a long edge of each of the traysas in 10, and therefore those of the milk bags as in 60 is visible fromthe outside and easily recognizable. As the trays as in 10 are emptied,they are simply removed from the top of the stack and placed to theside, typically by the customer given their light weight. In thisregard, the empty trays are light enough (for example a maximum of about3.5 kilograms or 7-8 pounds) such that they can be easily manipulatedwithout the use of gloves or special tools.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, in a second mode of operation, empty trays asin 10 can be stacked as a nested stack 64 by reversing the orientationof the trays, by aligning respectively the first pairs of uprights as in22 and the second pairs of uprights as in 26 and inserting the uprights22, 26 of a lower tray into those of an upper tray an such that thelower surface of the upper tray rests upon the upper surface of thelower tray. In this manner, a large number of empty trays can becompactly stacked to facilitate their return to the milk supplier or thelike along with the standard commercial pallet 62.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the tray, for example foruse in transporting and displaying other food stuffs such as freshproduce or the like, the dividers as in 16 and 20 may be modified, forexample to accommodate cartons or the like, or removed. In this regard,the selection of the thickness of the plastic for use in manufacture ofthe support 12 will typically be determined by a combination of thepresence or absence of the supporting dividers 16, 20 and the weight ofthe goods to be supported by the tray.

Referring now to FIG. 4C, in a first such alternative embodiment thetrays as in 10 are adapted to receive a plurality of standard milk jugs66. Applicant notes that in conventional systems for the transport ofsuch jugs, subsequent layers of jugs are supported in large part by thejugs underneath. One advantage of such a configuration as disclosed inFIG. 4C, where the jugs as in 66 do not support the upper layer, is thatthe materials used to manufacture the jugs can be considerably thinner(up to 30%), thereby reducing the costs of the jugs as well as reducing,as the jugs are typically discarded after a single use, the amount ofmaterial which is discarded. Additionally, jugs from the lower layerscan be withdrawn without risk that the upper layer becomes unstable, orthe like.

Similarly, with reference to FIGS. 4D and 4E, in a second and third suchalternative embodiment the trays as in 10 are adapted to receiverespectively a plurality of one (1) liter milk cartons as in 68 and aplurality of two (2) liter milk cartons as in 70. Again, as the upperlayers of cartons 68, 70 do not rest on the lower layers, materials usedto manufacture the cartons can be thinner and less robust than a systemwhere the cartons provide some of the support for the upper layers,allowing for relatively inexpensive materials to be used.

With reference to FIG. 4F, an additional advantage of the above is thatdifferent products with different formats (bags, jugs and cartons) canbe easily mixed on a pallet 62, for example by providing several traysas in 10 of each type of format on each pallet 62. Although in a firstembodiment it is foreseen that adapted for use with a differentcontainer format are able to nest with one another such that they can beeasily stacked, in order to aid in sorting the trays following use andto ensure their return to locations where their respective format isused, in a second embodiment it is foreseen that the uprights of traysadapted for use with different container formats vary such that the trayadapted for use with a first container format is unable to nest withtrays adapted for use with a different container format. This can bedone, for example by positioning the uprights such that they areslightly closer or farther apart, or by providing a keying system (forexample different shaped uprights or the like) such that the uprights ofone tray are unable to nest within those of another tray unless they areof the same type. Color coding or the like could also be provided to aidnested stacking of like trays.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in a fourth alternative embodiment of the tray10 an additional pair of tapered hollow central supports as in 72 isprovided and the tray sized to accommodate twenty (20) standard milkbags and for a 2×1 arrangement on a standard commercial pallet.Alternatively, and with appropriate modification, the tray can beadapted to accommodate either jugs or cartons. A first of the pair ofcentral supports as in 72 is positioned flush against the edge of thetray 10 while a second of the of the pair of central supports as in 72is offset from the tray such that when in a stacked configuration in afirst orientation the pair of central supports 72 of the lower tray areengaged by the underside 44 of the upper tray (as are those of the firstpair of uprights 22 and the second pair of uprights 26). In a secondnested orientation, wherein the upper tray is rotated 180 degreeshorizontally to the lower tray, the pair of central uprights 72 of thelower tray are inserted into the pair of hollow central uprights 72 ofthe upper tray (again, as are those of the first pair of uprights 22 andthe second pair of uprights 26). In this orientation the upper surfaceof the lower tray is directly adjacent the underside 44 of the uppertray.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofspecific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing fromthe spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A compact stackable tray configured for stacking with otherlike trays comprising: a flat rectangular support; a plurality ofdividers integral to said support and separating an upper surface ofsaid support into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartmentssized to receive a bottom of at least one standard milk containertherein; a rim about a periphery of said rectangular support; and afirst pair of hollow uprights arranged towards a first short edge ofsaid support and a second pair of hollow uprights arranged towards asecond short edge of said support opposite said first edge, saiduprights extending above said support to a height above that of astandard milk container when supported on the support; wherein in afirst orientation of said tray to an upper like tray, the upper liketray is supported by said uprights of said tray and such that a lowersurface of a support of the upper tray is maintained at least a heightof said standard milk container above an upper surface of said supportof said tray and wherein a standard milk container positioned in any ofsaid compartments of said tray can be removed across a given long edgeof said tray without moving said upper tray and further wherein in asecond orientation of the upper tray to said tray rotated 180 degreeshorizontally to said first orientation, said hollow uprights of saidtray nest within said hollow uprights of the upper tray and such thatthe lower surface of the support of the upper tray is immediatelyadjacent said upper surface of said support of said tray when empty andfurther wherein said uprights combined can support a minimum weight of160 kgs.
 2. The compact stackable tray of claim 1, wherein an apex ofeach of said uprights is flat.
 3. The compact stackable tray of claim 1,wherein each of said first pair of uprights are positioned at a cornerof said support and each of said second pair of uprights are positionedbetween a corner of said support and a center of said second short edge.4. The compact stackable tray of claim 1, wherein each of said hollowuprights is of a rectangular frustum shape.
 5. The compact stackabletray of claim 1, wherein each of said uprights comprises an air hole ina top thereof.
 6. The compact stackable tray of claim 1, wherein saidrim has a height above said rectangular support is substantially thesame or greater than that of said dividers.
 7. The compact stackabletray of claim 1, wherein a long edge of each of said compartments isarranged in parallel to a long edge of said support.
 8. The compactstackable tray of claim 1, wherein at said standard milk container isselected from a group comprising a standard four liter milk bag, astandard four liter jug, a standard two liter carton or carton and astandard one liter carton or carton.
 9. The compact stackable tray ofclaim 1, wherein at said standard milk container is selected from agroup comprising a standard gallon jug, a standard half gallon jug orcarton, and a standard one quart jug or carton.
 10. The compactstackable tray of claim 8, wherein said standard milk container is afour liter milk bag and further wherein a height of said dividers issufficient to maintain said standard four liter milk bag in an uprightposition.
 11. The compact stackable tray of claim 8, wherein saidstandard milk container is a four liter milk bag and further whereinsaid support is configured to receive ten of said four liter milk bags.12. The compact stackable tray of claim 8, wherein said standard milkcontainer is a gallon jug and further wherein said support is configuredto receive ten of said gallon jugs.
 13. The compact stackable tray ofclaim 8, wherein said standard milk container is a two liter carton andfurther wherein said support is configured to receive twenty of said twoliter cartons.
 14. The compact stackable tray of claim 8, wherein saidstandard milk container is a one liter carton and further wherein saidsupport is configured to receive forty of said one liter cartons. 15.The compact stackable tray of claim 1, wherein in said nested secondorientation an outer surface of each of said uprights of said lower trayand an inner surface of each of a respective one of said uprights ofsaid upper tray do not come into contact.
 16. The compact stackable trayof claim 1, wherein four of said trays fit snugly in a 2×2 configurationon a standard 40×48 pallet.
 17. A compact stackable tray systemcomprising: a pair of like compact stackable trays arranged as an uppertray and a lower tray, each of said trays comprising: a flat rectangularsupport; a plurality of dividers separating an upper surface of saidsupport into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartmentssized to receive at least one standard milk container therein; a rimabout a periphery of said rectangular support; and a first pair ofhollow uprights arranged along a first short edge of said support and asecond pair of hollow uprights arranged on a second short edge of saidsupport opposite said first edge, said uprights extending above saidsupport; wherein in a first orientation of said upper tray to said lowertray, said upper tray is supported by said uprights of said lower traysuch that a lower surface of said support of said upper tray ismaintained at least a height of the standard milk container above anupper surface of said support of said lower tray and wherein a standardmilk container positioned in any of said compartments of said lower traycan be removed across a given long edge of said lower tray withoutmoving said upper tray and further wherein in a second orientation ofsaid upper tray to said lower tray rotated 180 degrees horizontally tosaid first orientation, said hollow uprights of said lower tray nestwithin said hollow uprights of said upper tray and such that said lowersurface of said support of said upper tray is immediately adjacent saidupper surface of said support of said lower tray and further wherein foreach tray said uprights combined can support a minimum weight of 160kgs.
 18. The compact stackable tray system of claim 17, wherein thestandard milk container is a standard four liter milk bag, wherein along edge of each of said compartments is arranged in parallel to a longedge of said support, and further wherein a height of said rim issufficient to maintain a standard four liter milk bag in an uprightposition.
 19. The compact stackable tray system of claim 17, whereinsaid rim has a height above said rectangular support greater than thatof said dividers.
 20. A compact stackable tray system for stacking milkcontainers of a plurality of different milk container formats: for agiven one of the plurality of standard milk container formats, at leastone compact stackable tray comprising: a flat rectangular support; aplurality of dividers separating an upper surface of said support into aplurality of compartments, each of said compartments sized to receive atleast one standard milk container of the given standard milk containerformat therein; a rim about a periphery of said rectangular support; anda first pair of hollow uprights arranged along a first short edge ofsaid support and a second pair of hollow uprights arranged on a secondshort edge of said support opposite said first edge, said uprightsextending above said support; wherein in a first orientation, an uppertray is supported by uprights of a lower tray such that a lower surfaceof a support of said upper tray is maintained at least a height of saidgiven standard milk container of said lower tray above an upper surfaceof said support of said lower tray and wherein a standard milk containerpositioned in any of said compartments of said lower tray can be removedacross a given long edge of said lower tray without moving said uppertray and further wherein in a second orientation of said upper tray tosaid lower tray rotated 180 degrees horizontally to said firstorientation, if said upper tray and said lower tray are each adapted forstacking a like given milk container format, said hollow uprights ofsaid lower tray nest within said hollow uprights of said upper tray andsuch that said lower surface of said support of said upper tray isimmediately adjacent said upper surface of said support of said lowertray, and if said upper tray and said lower tray are each adapted forstacking a different given milk container format, said hollow uprightsof said lower tray are unable to nest within said hollow uprights ofsaid upper tray, and further wherein for each tray said uprightscombined can support a minimum weight of 160 kgs.
 21. The compactstackable tray system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of differentmilk container formats are selected from a group comprising a standardfour liter milk bag, a standard gallon jug, a standard two liter cartonand a standard one liter carton.